Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-03-24
WAS SHE A COWARD?
Why Molly did Things" as if She
We're Brave.

Why Molly did Things" as if She
We're Brave.
''Oh: Molly Bates! before I'd be such
"a 'fraid cat!" shouted Frank Parsons,
as he saw Molly climb five-rail fence
and scramble up into an apple-tree,
because Mr.. Ways great dog came
barking down the road. Poor Molly
sat ciinging to the bough of the tree,
pale as a girl could be with the healthy
tan of outdoor life and summer suns
on her face; trembling all over. eyes
full of terror. and just ready to scream.
when Mr.. Way called off his great En-
glish mastiff, slipped the chain under
his collar and led him away. growing
like distant thunder. Molly crept
down, and Frank went on:
Before I'd climb an apple-tree
cause l was 'fraid of a dog"'
Molly said nothing; her eyes were
full of tears, for she liked her cousin
Frank. who was spending the summer
in Newiield, and yet she could not
deny that she was very much afraid of
the dog.
Molly was eight years older than
Frank; a bright, sweet girl of seven
teen she had never known her New
York cousins till this summer. for they
had been in Europe almost ever since
Frank was born. as he crossed the ocean
at six months old; and the three older
: Parsons children had only been to
Newiield once, when they were very
Young. Aida was but nineteen now:
Amy just six months older than Molly
Bates. John, the oldest of all, was
twenty-one, and fashionable young
man Of the city. Frank had been sent
to Newiield this summer because the
family came back from abroad too
late to put him in school. and they did
not want him at Newport. or Saratoga.
or LenoN; SO he was sen. to his uncle S
in Newtield, and enjoyed himself as
heartily there as ever a boy did enjoy
"co.ntry life with kindly. generous rel
atives. And Frank liked Molly very
much; she was the oldest of Uncle
Bates two children; for little AXE"
as she called herself.was only four, ard
went by the name of Baby" half the
time. nobody ever using her real name
of Achsah.
Boys Go not care much for small
children bat are apt to fancy those
older than themselves. and Frank took
n great liking to Molly; she was always
ready to 90 with him on the hills after
berries: to show him where he could
dig s;issafras, pick wintergreen, find
black birch for its odorous twigs.
gather ilag-buds. or honeysuckle APP
pies; and she could show him every
cold brook for two miles about where
he could catch small trout. that Aunt
Mary would fry for his supper. And
Nelly was such a pretty girl, with her
soft hazel eyes. nut-brown curls. and
rosy checks, all lit up by the sunniest
smiles, that Frank admired her very
much; but, alas! Molly sank great
many degrees in his esteem when he
found out how afraid she was of a big
dog. of Il COW that was cross, of her
fathers fast horses; even of the big
turkey-cock that came gobbling and
bustling and attempting to fly at her
when size crossed the barnyard with a
little red shawl on her shoulders.
Frank thought girl ought to be as
brave as a boy. and quite despised
Molly because, he said:
'.Shc's a real. old coward! 'Fraid of
a dog. pooh! I'd just as lives slap that
dog in the chops as not!'
81 wouldn't try it eff 1 was you,'r
.dryly remarked Hiram, the hired man.
..Molly knows more'n you do about that
there dog; he's uglier n all possessed.
Ways tryin' his level best to get rid on
him. before haydn. for he's bit two of
their folks Already"
..Sho! he wouldn't bite girl, don't
believe
II dono as he would, an I lono as he
wouldn't; but Wouldn't run no resks,
not very fur" answered Hiram.
..Well, she's 'fraid of Bill an Joe"
81 wish't you was. Idono what your
folks think ont, but eff you was my boy
you shouldn't no more drive them young
bosses than nothing! They amt half
broke"
..Well, Uncle isn't goin' to let me; he
said he was only fannin' when he asked
If l didn't want to take them over to
the r:llage for the mail.
..Kinder lucky you didn't ! expect